The White Ferns opened their ODI Series at Mount Maunganui in stunning style yesterday, sweeping aside a jaded England at the Bay Oval by 67 runs.

England captain Charlotte Edwards opted to bowl first on a grassy wicket in breezy, fine conditions, but regretted her decision when opposing skipper Suzie Bates smashed her sixth ODI century off just 108 balls, and established a new record opening stand against England of 157.

White Ferns' Rachel Priest in full swing against England at the Bay Oval. Photos: Chris Callinan.

Rachel Priest supported Bates (106) with a calm half-century in her 50th match for the Ferns, while Bates cashed in on a strong start by boldly taking an early second batting power play in the 24th over.

'We'd discussed it in the past,” says Bates. ”Hamish (Barton, coach) thinks it's best to take it when two batters are in, rather than leaving it till the 35th over, when perhaps you've lost wickets. I think it helped my innings to get some momentum after a few dot balls.”

The solid opening partnership put the Ferns firmly on course for a defendable total, despite Bates' dismissal in the 36th over triggering a flurry of late wickets that saw the Ferns stutter from 178/3 to 240/8 at the completion of 50 overs.

'We were going to bowl as well, so it was one of those tosses that you were glad to lose because it perhaps didn't play how it looks,” she adds.

'It wasn't the easiest wicket, and I never felt that ‘in' today, but we just managed to build a partnership and we looked up and all of a sudden it was a 70, 80, a hundred. For it to be Rachel Priest's 50th game as well is pretty special.”

Right-arm medium pacer Heather Knight caused the most difficulty for the Ferns, taking career best figures of 4-47 as she claimed prize scalps in Priest, Amy Satterthwaite, Sophie Devine and Sara McGlashan.

But England's fielding was rusty — shelling two catches, including one from Bates who was handed a lifeline on 48 when Lydia Greenway spilled a tough chance at short midwicket, off Danielle Hazell.

By contrast, the White Ferns put on a polished display and quickly piled on the pressure when it was their turn with the ball. Bates at square leg took a spectacular one-handed grab to dismiss Natalie Sciver after initially fielding the ball with her leg and kicking it up.

Regular wickets and some horror mix-ups running between the wickets — including Sarah Taylor running out her captain when she called for a single that was never on — meant England struggled to get a partnership going, the best being a late 47-run stand for the ninth wicket between Danielle Hazell, who top-scored for England with just 29, and Anya Shrubsole.

Their defeat was signed off when player of the day Bates took the final wicket of Shrubsole, and England were all out for 173 in 45.2 overs.

The second ODI takes place at the same venue on Friday, where admission is free.

White Ferns v England – Game One Result

New Zealand White Ferns 240/8 (Suzy Bates 106, Rachel Priest 52, Katie Perkins 27no; Heather Knight 4/47) defeated England 173 (Anya Shrubsole 39, Lydia Greenaway 27, Charlotte Edwards 26, Natalie Sciver 23; Erin Bermingham 2/20, Sophie Devine 2/30).